Secure Data Hiding Using Eight Queens Solutions

Abstract

The 8-queens problem of placing 8 non-attacking queens on an 8x8 chessboard is used to hide message in an image. The method helps in randomizing the bit selection in a cover image for hiding purpose. Cover image is divided into blocks of 8x1 bytes and then masked with solutions of the 8-queens problem. Bits from the block are collected corresponding to the 8-queen solution to make a 7 bit string. LSB of the block is not considered. It gives a number in the range of 0 to 127. If a bit string, corresponding to the 8-queens solutions, matches with ASCII code of the first character from message, the corresponding solution number of the 8-queens problem is encrypted using RC4, and the cipher is stored in first block of the cover. This encrypted value works as key. The solution number corresponding to next character is XORED with the key and the resultant value is embedded in the LSB of next block. The algorithm has been tested with cover of different image file formats like BMP, PNG and TIFF. The algorithm provides very good capacity, imperceptibility and robustness.

Security against Sample Pair Steganalysis in Eight Queens Data Hiding Technique

“…In the recent years, many steganographic methods are developed in which these steganographic requirements are finely balanced. These methods are mainly divided in two groups: spatial domain [3,6,18,19,22] and frequency domain [12,13,14]. In spatial domain methods, the least significant bit (LSB) embedding are extensively used to hide secret data because it is easy to implement and it offers high embedding capacity.…”

“…In spatial domain methods, the least significant bit (LSB) embedding are extensively used to hide secret data because it is easy to implement and it offers high embedding capacity. In this approach, raster scans [6,19] and random scans [18,20] have been adopted to hide the secret data in the visited pixel. For security concern, the random scan embedding is preferred over the raster scan embedding.…”

“…For security concern, the random scan embedding is preferred over the raster scan embedding. Muttoo et al [4,18] proposed a data hiding method based on eight queen solutions. This method helps in randomizing the bit selection in a cover image for hiding purpose.…”

“…We need to develop such steganographic systems, which are statistically robust. In this paper, the security strength of data hiding technique [18] are analyzed with respect to a statistical change and then some enhancement are proposed to make the method more secure and robust against various steganalysis.…”

“…Sample pair steganalysis is briefly introduced in Section 2. Section 3 describes data hiding technique using eight queen solutions [18]. The Section 4 of this paper deals with the security analysis of data hiding technique based on eight queen solutions and proposed security enhancement.…”